Alex Tanguay

Tanguay may be aging, but the veteran continues to reach the box score year and year despite traveling to different teams. Colorado has welcomed the winger three separate times, and even drafted him back in 1998, which makes one think this could be his final destination. In ...

Although the Avalanche finished last in the Central Division, Tanguay was a bright spot in 2014-15, finishing third on the team with 22 goals and 55 points in 80 games. He may be 35 years old, but Tanguay remains a dangerous sniper who should continue to enjoy a top-six role in Colorado. He doesn’t shoot much and only sees second-unit power-play time, but Tanguay has found a rhythm with Jarome Iginla and is capable of providing capable secondary scoring. It’s unlikely Tanguay improves on his totals from 2014-15, but as long as he remains in a top-six role and sees some time on the man advantage, he should remain a steady and reliable source of point production.

2014-15

Making his return to the team he starred for in the early 2000s, Tanguay had an injury-riddled campaign in 2013-14 with the Avalanche. Various ailments with his hip and, more seriously, his knee, limited him to just 16 contests that saw him tally a respectable four goals and seven assists. The 2001 Stanley Cup-clinching goal scorer will be entering his age-35 season on a young and extremely talented Avalanche squad, with a decent chance to crack the top-six with the departures of Paul Stastny and P.A. Parenteau. Couple that with the fact that Tanguay is reuniting with the newly-acquired Jarome Iginla -- a player that he was partially responsible for luring to Colorado as a free agent this summer after their success together for nearly five seasons in Calgary -- and Tanguay could be in low-risk, high-reward territory in 2014-15. Also, as of the start of training camp in September, Coach Patrick Roy has indicated that he will be plunking Tanguay at right wing on the top line beside star sophomore Nathan MacKinnon to start the season, a role that would spike Tanguay’s value if he’s able to stay healthy and find chemistry there.

2013-14

Tanguay, who was acquired in a trade with Calgary this offseason, should help add a veteran presence to a young Avs team. He's not the scorer he was the first time he played in the Mile High City (1999-2000 to 2005-06), but he's a great set-up man on the power play. And he could be easily be a 50-point scorer this season on the second line with rising star Gabriel Landeskog and playmaker Paul Stastny. Don't overlook him.

2012-13

Injuries hurt Tanguay’s consistency in 2011-12, as he was able to play only 64 games. However, he was one of the more potent players on Calgary when he was on the ice, putting up 49 points in 64 games and being one of the few Flames with a positive rating (plus-7). He struggled through an injury through the last portion of the season, and ended up with only three points in his last 11 games. If he can stay healthy in 2012-13, however, he’s a pretty good fantasy option next to Jarome Iginla, capable of producing stretches like the February-March tear when he notched 14 points in nine games. He will likely end the year with 15-20 goals and 35-45 assists.

2011-12

Tanguay revitalized his career playing alongside captain Jerome Iginla last season. He found his scoring touch en route to 22 goals and 47 assists, which marked his highest point total since 2006-07. Clearly recognizing Tanguay's importance to the club, General Manager Jay Feaster re-signed the playmaker to a new five-year deal in the summer, which all but guarantees that the Quebec native will eventually retire in Alberta.

2010-11

Tanguay was the first surprise signing by the Flames on July 1, as part of their Discounted Properties Reunion Tour. He signed a one-year, $1.7M deal with the Flames trying to revive his career at the scene where he last tasted success. The key for Tanguay will be whether he can stick on Jarome Iginla's line. If he can, a windfall of points might follow. If not, he could continue down the path of oblivion that started last year in Tampa Bay, when scored just 27 points and went through frequent, soul-crushing point droughts.

2009-10

Tanguay is painfully soft and often injured. But he’s the kind of passer who will instantly improve the Bolts’ woeful power play and slot in beside an obviously ecstatic Lecavalier on the top line. He’s coming off a disappointing tour in bleu, blanc et rouge, and he’s looking to earn himself some serious cash next year. He’ll do it on the back of a point-per-game pace in the 70 games he plays.

2008-09

Tanguay is coming off a down year in Calgary, where he only scored 18 goals and 58 points in 78 games. That's a far cry from the previous two seasons in Colorado where he posted 81 points in 2006-07 and 78 points in 2005-06. Tanguay, who's only 28 years-old, should be revitalized in his home province of Quebec. Tanguay is set to start the season on a line with Chris Higgins at left wing and Saku Koivu at center. Tanguay has unselfishly offered to play the right side with the long standing duo of Koivu and Higgins. Moreover, Tanguay's all but guaranteed first power-play time. A return to 65-70 points seems within reach.

2007-08

Tanguay took a lot of criticism at the beginning of last season, but Calgarians forgot that Tanguay is always a slow starter. Not many Flames fans were complaining by the end of the campaign, as Tanguay finished with 22 goals and 59 assists to achieve a career high in points. He never seems to get enough credit, but Tanguay is fine being overshadowed by the Sakics and Iginlas of the world. Tanguay should notch 20-30 goals along with 50-60 assists again this season.

2006-07

Despite having to give up Jordan Leopold and two second-round picks for Tanguay, Calgary got a premier scorer out of the deal. The Flames' offense suffered from not having a second option all of last season and Tanguay's 78 points and amazing .232 shooting percentage speak for themselves. The sniper should gel perfectly with Iginla and give hope for more than a first-round exit in the playoffs in 2006-07. Expect similar numbers from Tanguay this season, and possibly an increase if the Flames choose to convert him into a center and place Jeff Friesen on the first line.

2005-06

Tanguay finished ninth in league scoring in the last NHL season, 2003-04. In 69 games he scored 25 goals and added a career-high 54 assists for 79 points and led the team with a plus-30 rating. Tanguay shouldn't be affected by the Avs' loss of superstar center Peter Forsberg as NHL All-Stars Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk are expected to be his linemates for the coming campaign.